Tennis

Federer to skip Davis Cup playoff

Roger Federer says he won’t play for Switzerland in the Davis Cup playoffs against Ecuador in September.

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Federer says ”it’s better” he announce now that he’ll miss the Sept. 13-15 series at home after the U.S. Open.

The 31-year-old Federer previously said he would schedule more breaks for family and recovery time this year. But he was criticized at home for being unclear about his Davis Cup plans before skipping a first-round loss against the Czech Republic in February.

Federer says he spoke with Swiss federation president Rene Stammbach at the Madrid Masters this month and again by telephone before making his decision.

Switzerland will host Ecuador on indoor hard courts in Neuchatel. The winner stays in the 16-nation world group in 2014.